About

Bring Back Gothamist

$200,147

pledged of $100,000 goal

2,860

backers

Hello again, New York City!

It’s been five months since Gothamist went dark, leaving behind a distinct void in the New York City news ecosystem. In the aftermath, we’ve heard from so many people who told us how much they missed Gothamist—which over the years had become a trusted friend, sharing essential stories and shedding light on issues that matter most to New Yorkers.

Fortunately, a happy ending—and new beginning—is within reach: Gothamist has joined WNYC.

And now it’s our priority to build out the site and bring back the Gothamist you love. We aim to get Gothamist back to full strength and make it sustainable for years to come.

With your support, Gothamist will have the resources to expand coverage of issues that are vital to the social fabric of New York City: transportation, affordable housing, gentrification, demonic landlords, immigration, and the living wage struggle. We’re proud of our past work on these topics—as well as our vibrant culture and food reporting—and we’re committed to deepening and diversifying our coverage of New York City.

Gothamist is now a part of member supported New York Public Radio, which is a registered 501c3. Your pledge is tax deductible, minus the value and/services of your selected reward and credit card processing and Kickstarter fees. At the end of the campaign, when we reach our goal and credit card transactions are completed, we will send out tax acknowledgement letters.

The West Indian American Day Parade, 2017. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)

WHAT WE’LL DO WITH THE MONEY

It’s simple: all funds raised with this Kickstarter will go to funding Gothamist. The first $100,000 will help revive the website and bring back our popular newsletter. It will also enable us to preserve the Gothamist and DNAinfo archives. But this is just the beginning. The more we raise, the better we can serve you.

Great American Eclipse 2017 (Sai Moktari / Gothamist)

If we raise another $100,000, we’ll be able to deepen our service. With your participation, we will be able to deliver more of the “Best Of” features, more stunning New York photography, more on the mass transit crisis that is messing with our daily lives, revealing more of the city’s extraordinary secrets and essential weirdness.

Inside an illegal party in an abandoned subway station in Manhattan. (Tod Seelie / Gothamist)

New York-based, New York-centric reporting has never been needed like it is today—and you can help bring it back.

Just as life in New York is not a spectator sport, neither is enjoying a healthy, revitalized Gothamist. We are counting on the people who rely on every part of our service—the insightful news, the rich arts features, the unblinking eye on the idiosyncratic—to be the center of the new Gothamist.

You are indispensable to the Gothamist's foundation. That’s why we are asking you to back this Kickstarter right now.

WHO WE ARE

Gothamist is a website about New York City and everything that happens in it. Founded by Jen Chung and Jake Dobkin in 2003, Gothamist grew slowly and organically over the years, covering major metro news events while also reveling in those peculiar aspects of life in New York City.

Gothamist has a keen interest in transportation and street safety for pedestrians and cyclists. We shine a light on shady landlords, affordable housing struggles, the impact of gentrification, income inequality, criminal justice reform, homelessness, police accountability, and climate change.

With our definitive guides to life in NYC, we tell readers where to find the best bagels, best bra fitters, best gay bars, best bike rides, and best hangover foods. Our weekly event roundups help ensure you don’t miss the cool stuff going on, from Bushwig to Bike Kill to Beer Mansion.

Bike Kill 2017 (Tod Seelie / Gothamist)

Gothamist’s goal is to maintain our role as your trusted friend, to help New Yorkers navigate the best and worst of this sprawling city. And we know our readers are vital partners in this mission. Now, we’re asking you to join us in the ongoing conversation about what makes New York City such an incredible place to call home.

From producing shows like 2 Dope Queens and hard-hitting investigative work like Trump, Inc, to running one of the city’s largest newsrooms, WNYC brings together the voices of our city to the public on air, through podcasts, and beyond. WNYC is the perfect home for Gothamist to continue to do its work.

Afropunk 2017 (Elias Williams / Gothamist)

REWARDS!

Pledge $25 or more to bring back Gothamist and receive a two button set that will let you show everyone that you’ve got Gothamist’s back.

Gothamist button set for backers.

Pledge $75 or more and get this tote which merges Gothamist attitude + public radio tote bag technology to make the after-work shlep much less annoying.

The brand new Gothamist Tote. Gray canvas with logo.

Pledge $120or more and start your day like a real New Yorker with a cup of joe in the Gothamist Mug plus you'll get the tote and buttons!

Pledge $240 or more and you'll own this EXCLUSIVE print commissioned just for this moment in time: NYC-based illustrator Jenny Kroik painted what might be the best subway commute possible.

A print from an original painting by Jenny Kroik

Pledge $600 or more and tour the Gothamist/ WNYC newsroom. Come hang, see bloggers in action, and be surprised when you hear voices from the radio come out of real people.

Pledge $1200 or more
and receive two general admission VIP tickets to come and celebrate with us at New York Public Radio LIVE at Brooklyn Bowl.

Pledge $10,000 or more and get two spots on the Gothamist lane to bowl with our founders Jen and Jake at New York Public Radio LIVE at Brooklyn Bowl.

Risks and challenges

Gothamist joined WNYC thanks to financial support from several generous donors. Now we need your support to rebuild Gothamist to its former strength, and make it even better than ever, we need our readers to join us.

Becoming part of WNYC is an important step forward for Gothamist readers and New York news consumers. WNYC and Gothamist share a mission to keeping our region informed and WNYC is a leader in member-supported media.

Gothamist’s mission has not, and will not, change. Even with seismic shifts forcing news outlets to rethink their business models, Gothamist is unswerving in its commitment to New Yorkers. In every city, local news is fast becoming an endangered species as newsrooms continue to suffer from drastic layoffs and budget cuts. If we don’t figure out new ways to fund essential local reporting, we will be doing our communities a disservice. This Kickstarter is a way for YOU to make a tangible difference.

In journalism, it matters where the funding comes from. At Gothamist, it now comes from you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 200 or more
About US$ 200

Gothamist baseball cap

This EXTREMELY LIMITED EDITION snapback baseball cap is the perfect way to show your love for team Gothamist, New York City, and local journalism. There are only six and once they're gone, they're gone.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 200 or more
About US$ 200

NY Transit Museum Family Membership

Get everyone out of the house with a one-year family membership to Brooklyn’s Transit Museum. Includes all the core member benefits plus general museum admission for 2 designated adults with up to 4 children and Birthday party discount. Makes that visit from out-of-town guests so much more bearable.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 200 or more
About US$ 200

Anthology Film Annual Archives

Anthology Film Archives has been standing strong in the East Village since 1970. Become a member of this New York institution with a Contributor Membership ($150 value). This comes with an Anthology tote bag, and a book signed by Anthology's founder, Jonas Mekas. We'll throw in a Gothamist mug, too.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 240 or more
About US$ 240

Gothamist Comeback Poster

Another EXCLUSIVE item for this Kickstarter, created just for this moment in time by Jenny Kroik, a NYC-based illustrator who is inspired by the city. She has painted two recent covers of The New Yorker and you can see more of her work at jennykroik.com.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 240 or more
About US$ 240

Amanda Palmer & Neil Gaiman Art Print

If you missed out on the original art created by Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman you can get this limited edition print to decorate your apartment and show your friends and family that you love Gothamist just as much as you love the city’s skyline. Available only until Friday, May 4.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 300 or more
About US$ 300

Dirty Candy Special

We have ONE delicious reward from one of our favorite vegetarian restaurants in town, Dirt Candy. You’ll get a gift certificate so you can try their Vegetable Garden tower (or whatever else you may want!), a cookbook, a Dirt Candy tee, a Dirt Candy tote. Plus, we throw in the EXCLUSIVE founders mug.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 300 or more
About US$ 300

Transit Museum Nostalgia Ride

Give at this level and we’ll hook you up with four tickets to the Transit Museum’s next Nostalgia Ride. Vintage cars, rattan seats, ceiling fans, you bring the boater and string of pearls, if that’s your thing. ($200 value).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 300 or more
About US$ 300

Metrograph Annual Membership

Treat yourself to a year of quality movie screenings at the beautiful Metrograph movie theater. You’ll become a “Friend” of the theater with this dual membership (valued at $185), which will give you $10 tickets to any regularly-priced screening, early access to special screenings, and a 15% discount at their bookstore.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 500 or more
About US$ 500

ORIGINAL Amanda Palmer & Neil Gaiman Art

A picture is worth a thousand words and nothing says “We love Gothamist” quite like this beautiful NYC skyline from Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman. An original illustration created with their toddler could be all yours and a constant reminder of the city you love to read about at Gothamist.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 850 or more
About US$ 850

Forest Hills Show Package

Get TWO tickets to the show of your choice at the historic Forest Hills Stadium during their 2018 Concert Series. And that’s not all: your tickets will come with VIP passes to the Strongbow Orchard, which includes early entry to the venue, access to private restrooms and an exclusive private bar.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 2,500 or more
About US$ 2,500

One Year Wing Membership

We have ONE complimentary annual membership to The Wing’s DUMBO location. As a Wing member, you’ll enjoy free coffee from their Perch cafe, so we’re throwing in a Gothamist mug. And sorry guys, this one is available to women only.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 10,000
About US$ 10,000

Bowl with our founders

Come and celebrate with Jen and Jake, our founders, on the Gothamist lane at New York Public Radio LIVE at Brooklyn Bowl. Open bar access included plus the opportunity to meet the whole team and other amazing Gothamist supporters.